Machine for operating on shoes



Jan. 16, 1934. I BATES r AL 1,943,411

MACHINE FOR OPERATING 0N SHOES Filed Dec. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 16, 1934. BATES ET AL 1,943,411

M ACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Filed Dec. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 1,943,411 MACHINE FOR OPERATING oN sHoEs' New Jersey Application December 14, 1929, Serial No. 414,152, and in Great Britain December 28, 1928' 33 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating on shoes, and in some of its aspects more particularly to machines for applying shaping or leveling pressure to the bottoms of shoes. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a so-called automatic leveling machine of a wellknown type having a leveling roll and a shoe support or jack which is movable to cause the roll to operate progressively along a portion, at least, of the'bottom of a shoe in the power operation of the machine. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to leveling machines of that particular character, and furthermore that in some of its novel and useful aspects it is applicable to machines other than leveling machines.

Machines of the above-mentioned type have been commonly provided heretofore with manually operated means for jacking the shoe, i. e.,

r for forcing the shoe and its last firmly against the shoe support to hold it in the leveling opera tion. Frequently, for example, there has been utilized for this purpose a so-called saddle extending across the bottom of the shoe and operated by a hand lever to press the shoe firmly down on the shoe support. It is an object of this invention, in one important aspect, to relieve the operator of much of the labor involved in jacking theshoe, and to this end the machine herein shown is provided with automatic means for forcing a saddle against the shoe. More particularly, the construction shown comprises means whereby the saddle is controlled by the movement of the shoe support, so that it is forced firmly against the shoe by that movement as the shoe is carried under the leveling roll. In combination with the automatic saddle-controlling means, the organization illustrated also includes mechanism whereby the operator is enabled to force the saddle against the shoe with comparatively light pressure prior to the starting of the machine; and in accordance with still other features of the invention there is provided means for locking the automatic saddle-controlling mecha nism to maintain the pressure on the shoe during the leveling operation and means for unlocking the mechanism after the leveling operation.

In another important aspect the invention has in view the treatment of different portions of the bottom of a shoe by different kinds of shaping or leveling pressure. In the use of a saddle over the shoe an object has been heretofore not only to hold the'shoe on the shoe support, but also to assist in the shaping of the bottom of the shoe by-the pressure of the saddle thereon. It has not been practicable, however, to use the saddle alone to apply to any portion of the shoe all the shaping or leveling pressure required, because of the difficulty of producing enough pressure for that purpose by the use of the manual means provided for operating the saddle; and it has accordingly been the practice either to apply pressure to the shoe through the saddle by means of the leveling rollor to subject portions of the shoe engaged by the saddle to additional treatment in another machine. By the provision of power-operated means for forcing the saddle against the shoe the present invention eliminates the need for the use of any means other than the saddle to shape that portion of the bottom of the shoe which the saddle engages; for example, as herein illustrated, the shank portion of the shoe bottom. In one aspect, the inventionthus provides power-operated means for applying to one portion of the shoe bottom non-progressive or direct shaping pressure, in combination with means for shaping or leveling another portion progressively, as by the action of a roll. For the purpose in view the saddle, as herein illustrated, includes a form having a shape approximately complemental to the desired contour of the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe. In the provision of such power-operated means for shaping the shank portion of the bottom of a shoe by direct pressure the invention has important advantages, for example, as applied toa'machine of the character disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,790,191, granted on January 27, 1931 uponan application of E. E. Winkley, having a leveling roll of large diameter arranged to operate only at the forepart of the shoe, since by the use of such means the shank portion of the shoe bottom will receive all the shaping or leveling pressure required at the same time as the forepart and in the same machine. While the machine herein shown is thus provided with a saddle for producing the shaping pressure, it will be evident that in its more general aspects the invention is not limited to the use of means of that particular character. 1

The above and other featiu'es of the invention, including also a novel shoe-pressing form or saddle, novel shoe-supporting means adjustable for shoes of different sizes, and various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly'described by'reference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view insideelevation of a portion ofa machine in which the invention is embodied, illustrating diagrammatically the position of a shoe in the machine;

Fig. 2 shows in side elevation some of the parts shown in Fig. 1, but in a different position;

Fig. 3 shows the parts illustrated in Fig. 2, but in still another position;

Fig. 4 shows in end elevation a portion of the saddle and its shank-pressing form, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4.

Since the invention is illustrated as applied to a leveling machine of a well-known type, only such parts of the machine as it is necessary to refer to for an understanding of the invention are shown and will be described in detail. Features of the general organization of machines of this type are disclosed in various prior United States Letters Patent, including Letters Patent No. 1,657,761, granted on May 1, 1928 upon an application of E. F... Winkley and H. A. Davenport, and also others hereinafter referred to. It will be understood that the machine includes an automatically controlled leveling roll 10 and a shoe 5' support or jack which in the power operation of the machine is moved automatically in directions lengthwise of the shoe to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe. The jack comprises a toe post 12 and a heel post 14 which are pivoted together at 16 for relative adjustment for shoes of diiferent sizes by means of a threaded adjusting rod 18 which moves the heel post toward or from the toe post so that the toe ends of shoes of different sizes will be presented in substantially the same relation to the roll 19. The jack as a whole is operatively movable about the axis of the shaft 20 on which the toe post 12 is mounted, and power-operated means, not herein shown, is provided for impart: ing to the jack reciprocatory movements about this axis to carry the shoe rearwardly and forwardly under the leveling roll. In these respects the construction shown is similar to that disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,239,664, granted on September 11, 1917 upon an application of W. C. Baxter. It will be further observed that the leveling roll 10 is of large diameter so that it applies to the shoe a wide band of pressure measured in the direction of the length of the shoe, and it is contemplated that the adjustment of the means for swinging the jack will be such that the roll will be confined in its operation substantially to the forepart of the shoe bottom, in accordance with the disclosure of the above-mentioned Let- I ters Patent No. 1,790,191.

For jacking the shoe on the shoe support and for holding'it firmly thereon in the leveling operation there is provided a saddle which, as herein illustrated, engages mainly the shank portion of the shoe bottom and for one of the objectsof the invention is so constructed and operated that it applies to this portion of the shoe bottom, independently of the action of the leveling roll, all the shaping or leveling pressure that is needed. The saddle includes a yoke member 22 in the form of an inverted U having a substantially fiat lower face extending widthwise of the shoe a distance considerably more than the width of the shoe. A screw 24 is swiveled in a hole in the member 22 and has attached to its lower threaded end a flexible resilient steel plate 26 which is substantially straight lengthwise of the shoe but is curved laterally of the shoe to present a concave face toward the bottom of the shoe. To the lower face of the steel plate 26 there is firmly secured a rubber block or pad 28 the lower face of which has a contour approximately complemental to the desired contour of the shank portion of the shoe bottom, the pad having a leather facing 30. The parts 26, 28, and 30 thus constitute a form which is a part of the shoe-pressing saddle, the form being supported on the member 22 and so mounted as to permit it to turn about the axis of the screw 24 to adjust itself to the shoe. In order that the same form may be used for several sizes of shoes, the curvature laterally of the shoe of the shoe-pressing face of the rubber pad 28 is such as to approximate most nearly the widthwise curvature of the shank portion of the bottom of the smallest shoe which it is desired to operate upon by means of the form, i. e., the shoe bottom having the maximum widthwise curvature. If a larger shoe is operated upon the flexibility of the form is suificient to permit it to spring outwardly and thus assume the proper shape. The curvature of the pad 28 lengthwise of the shoe is such as to approximate most nearly the curvature in this direction of the shank portion of the bottom of the largest shoe upon which the form is to operate, 1. e., the shoe bottom having the minimum lengthwise curvature, the form being adapted to spring when shoes of greater curvature are operated upon. In order to increase the flexibility of the form the front and rear ends of the steel plate 26 are slit in the direction of the length of the shoe to provide a plurality of fingers 32 which may be, for example, approximately five-eighths of an inch wide. By reason of this construction the form is adapted to be sprung more readily both laterally and longitudinally. The rear end of the form may, as illustrated, extend over a portion of the heel end of the shoe bottom so as to apply more or less shaping pressure also in this location. In order that the bottom of the shoe may be properly shaped or leveled at the junction of the forepart and the shank, the front end of the form is preferably curved in plan, as illustrated at 34 in Fig. 5, to conform to a line at the junction of these two portions of the shoe bottom, and is so shaped longitudinally as to present a wedge-shaped front edge, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In the construction shown the rubber pad 28 and the steel plate 26 are both beveled at their front edges and are so formed that the front edge of the steel plate is positioned a short distance rearwardly of the desired ball or joint line of the shoe bottom, while the leather facing 30 extends farther forwardly so as to overlap that line, this end of the leather facing being beveled to present a thin edge. The travel of the jack will preferably be so adjusted that the pressure of the leveling roll will be applied on this forwardly extending edge of the leather facing 30 and therefore somewhat to the rear of the ball line of the shoe to insure proper leveling at the junction of the forepart and the shank.

The yoke member 22 of the saddle has comparatively short downwardly extending arms which are connected by links 36 to the arms of a forked hand lever 38 fulcrumed at 40 on the opposite sides of the toe post 12. Each link 36 is provided with a slot 42 into which there extends a pin 44 on the hand lever 38, and associated with each link is a light spring 46 connected at one end to the link and at its other end to the pin 44, the springs thus tending to move the links downwardly as far as permitted by the pin and slot connections 42, 44. By means of this construction the operator is enabled, through movement of the hand lever 38, to force the saddle against the shoe with more or less pressure prior to the starting of the power operation of the machine, the springs 46 being arranged to yield in this operation. The hand lever 38 is locked in the position to which it is thus moved by the operator by a latch 48 in engagement with ratchet teeth 50 formed on a locking segment 52. The manual means thus far described for controlling the saddle is in some respects similar to means such as provided heretofore for a similar purpose, as illustrated, for example, in Letters Patent No. 1,263,361, granted on April 23, 1918 upon an application of W. C. Baxter.

For purposes of this invention mechanism operated automatically in response to the movement of the jack is provided for imparting to the hand lever 38 through the locking segment 52 additional movement to force the saddle against the shoe in the power operation of the machine. For the purpose in view there is secured to the lower part of the front face of the heel post 14 cf the jack a bracket 54 in which is formed an arcuate slot 56 to provide a slideway for the similarly curved lower end portion of the locking segment 52, this locking segment being thus movably mounted on the jack instead of fixed thereon as heretofore. For convenience the upper toothed portion of the segment 52 is not curved, but substantially straight, the lengthwise movement of the hand lever 38 necessitated by this construction being provided for by curved slots 58 on the toe post 12 along which the fulcrum pins 40 of the hand lever are movable in substantially the same manner as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,263,361. The upper end of the segment 52 is provided with a slot 60 cooperating with a pin 62 on the heel post 14 to assist in guiding the segment in its upward and downward movements. Near its lower end the segment 52 is provided with a pin 64 which extends laterally from it and upon which is mounted between its ends a rocking lever 66. The rear end of the lever 66 is hung by a link 68 on the bracket 54 and its front end is pivoted to the upper end of a rod 70 which extends downwardly through an aperture formed in a sleeve '72 pivoted at '74 to the forked front end of a supporting lever 76. The lever 76 is pivoted at '78 to a part 80 of the frame of the machine and has a toe portion 82 extending to the rear of the pivot 78 and arranged to engage the part 80 to limit movement of the lever in one direction. Between an adjustable collar 84 on the lower end of the rod 70 and the lower face of the sleeve '72 there is a compression spring 86 which tends to force the rod '70 downward relatively to the sleeve '72 and the lever 76, such downward movement of the rod being limited by a collar 88 seciued to the rod and cooperating with the upper end of the sleeve 72, leather washers 90 being preferably inserted between the collar and the sleeve. A comparatively light tension spring 92 connected at one end to the heel post 14 and at its other end to the lever 66 tends to rock the front end of this lever upwardly and thus to raise the rod 70, the sleeve '72 and the supporting lever '76 as far as permitted by engagement of the toe 82 with the frame member 89, thus lifting the locking segment 52 to the upper limit of its movement. It will be understood that the parts are thus normally positioned when the machine is idle.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that when the jack is swung aboutthe axis of the shaft 20 to. Carry the shoe under the leveling roll .at the beginning of the power operation of the machine, the bracket 5.4 is raised by that movement because of its relation to. that axis. In view, however, of the fact that the front end of the lever 66 is anchored at that time, through the rod '70, the spring 86 and the supporting lever 76, to the frame of the machine, the pin 64 and accordingly the locking segment 52 on which the pin is mounted are prevented from partaking fully of the upward movement of the bracket 54. As a result, the segment 52 and the lever 38 which is locked to the segment. by the latch 48 are depressed relatively to the bracket 54 and to the heel post 14, so that the saddle is forced more firmly against the shoe. In this manner the pressure of the saddle on the shoe is progressively increased until the jack arrives at the limit of its rearward movement, the pressure being yieldingly applied through the spring 86 which may be compressed more or less, as illustrated in Fig 2.

In order to prevent the pressure thus automatically applied to the shank portion of the shoe bottom from being relaxed to any substantial extent in the subsequent forward movement of the jack and such other reciprocatory movements as it receives in the course of the leveling operation, the machine is provided with automatic means for locking the segment 52 to the bracket 54. The locking device comprises an upwardly extending latch 94 the lower end of which is mounted on the same pivot 74 as the sleeve 72. The latch is controlled by a spring 96 which holds it against a roll 98 on the bracket 54. In the above described rearward movement of the jack the roll 98 moves upwardly along the rear face of the latch 94, and when the jack has arrived substantially at the limit of its rearward movement the roll is in such a position that the spring 96 is permitted to swing the latch rearwardly far enough to carry the head of an adjustable screw 100 on the latch beneath the roll. Such movement of the latch is limited by engagement of an extension 102 thereon with the roll, as illustrated in Fig. 2. When the jack thereafter receives is forward swinging movement the roll 98 by engagement with the screw 100 serves to force the pivot 74 and the parts connected therewith downwardly with the bracket 54, the supporting member 76 swinging about its pivot '78, so that the locking segment 52 is held in substantially the same relation to the bracket 54 without permitting the pressure of the saddle on the shoe to be relaxed to any substantial xtent, as will be evident by reference to Fig. 3.

It will be understood that in machines of the type illustrated the jack is swung forwardly at the end of the leveling operation to an inoperative position beyond its limit of forward movement in the operations of the machine on the shoe, and this final forward movement of the jack is utilized in the machine herein shown to throw the latch 94 out of operative position and thus to unlock the mechanism which forces the saddle automatically against the shoe. For this purpose there is provided on the frame of the machine an adjustable stop 104 which is arranged to engage the rear face of the latch 94 and to force it from under the roll 98 as the jack is swung to its inoperative position. In this mannerthe locking segment 52 is released so that it is moved up to its original position by the action ofthe spring 92.

In order to insure against. possible danger of damage to the last by reason of the, heavy pres-- i tent.

sure applied at the shank portion of the shoe, especially if a two-part last is used, the machine is provided with means which supports the shoe farther rearwardly than is the case with the usual toe rest. For this purpose there is mounted on the usual toe rest support 106 on the toe post 12 a bracket 108 having adepending spindle 110 which extends into a recess in the support. The bracket 108 is thus adapted to be adjusted vertically by means of a wedge in the same manner as the toe rest disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,171,383, granted on February 8, 1916 upon an application of W. C. Baxter. The lower end of the bracket 108 is adjustably spaced from the adjacent part of the toe post 12 by means of a pair of screws, one of which is shown at 112, threaded in the lower end of the bracket and abutting against the toe post. The bracket at its upper end has a forwardly projecting portion 114 pro vided with a slideway which slopes forwardly and downwardly and in which is mounted a slide 116. The up er portion of the slide 116 is provided at each side with a lug 118, only one of which is shown in the drawings, and pivoted at 120 on I these lugs there is a rocking cradle or support 122 the upper portion of which is shaped to embrace the most of the forepart and instep of a shoe and is preferably lined with felt about half an inch thick. While this cradle by its rocking movement will accommodate itself in a substantially satisfactory manner to a number of different sizes of shoes, the machine is further provided with means for effecting further adjustment of the cradle as the heel post 14 is adjusted for different sizes. For this purpose the bracket 108 is connected by a link 124 to the upper end of an arm 126 fixed on a rocking spindle 128 which is carried by the slide 116, and also fixed on the spindle 128 is a depending arm 130 connected by a link 132 to the heel post 14. It will thus be seen that when the heel post is adjusted toward or from the toe post 12 by the spindle 18, the cradle 122 receives also a bodily movement in the same direction, but of less ex- This insures that the cradle will be positioned in proper supporting relation to the instep portions of shoes of different sizes. There is further provision for a manual adjustment of the position of the cradle, which may be desirable in operating on shoes of diiferent styles, by means of a plurality of holes 134 in the arm 130 by which the link 132 may be connected to the arm at different distances from. the spindle 128.

In the operation of the machine, briefly summarized, the operator mounts a shoe on the jack when the latter is in its idle position, having previously by means of the spindle 18 adjusted the heel post 14 and the cradle 122 as required by the size of shoe to be operated upon. He then swings the saddle forwardly from its idle position at the rear of the heel end of the shoe to a position over the shank portion of the shoe and adjusts it in proper relation to the shoe bottom, after which he depresses the hand lever 38 to force the saddle against the shoe bottom with pressure enough to hold the shoe in position until the jacking is completed by the power operation of the machine. In this movement the hand lever acts yieldingly on the saddle through the springs 46, and the movement may or may not be of such extent as to carry the pins 44 into positive engagement with the links 36 at the lower ends of the slots 42. It will be understood that by the latch 48 the hand lever is locked to the segment 52 in the J position to which the operator depresses it. By

an upward pull on the lever 38 the operator next swings the jack about its pivot 20, as heretofore in the operation of machines of this type, until it arrives in the position in which it is locked to its automatic operating means.

The machine is then started and the jack is moved farther rearwardly by power to cause the roll 10 to operate progressively along the forepart of the shoe bottom. By this rearward movement of the jack there is eifected a depression of the locking segment 52 relatively to the heel post 14 through the action of the mechanism hereinbefore described in detail, including the lever 66 and the rod '70, and since the lever 38 is locked to the segment 52 this lever is correspondingly depressed to force the saddle still more firmly down upon the shoe bottom, thus completing the jacking of the shoe on the shoe support and also applying to the shank portion of the shoe bottom the required shaping or leveling pressure through the pad 28. It will be understood that this pressure is yieldingly applied through the spring 86 which may be adjusted by varying the position of the collar 84 so as to vary the amount of pressure. When the jack arrives substantially at the limit of its rearward movement the spring 96 operates the latch 94 to carry the head of the screw 100 under the roll 98 on the jack, so that in the succeeding forward movement of the jack and such further reciprocatory movements as it receives during the action of the leveling roll on the forepart of the shoe bottom the pressure automatically applied to the shoe by the saddle is maintained. When the jack is unlocked from its power operating means, as is usual at the end of the leveling operation, and is swung forward by gravity to its idle position, the stop 104 acts on the latch 94 to release the locking segment 52 which is then raised to its initial position by the spring 92. The operator thereafter releases the hand lever 38 from the locking segment and removes the saddle from the shoe, so that the shoe may be removed from the machine.

It will thus be seen that there is provided means whereby the operator is relieved, for the most part, of the labor involved heretofore in the jacking of the shoe, so that the shoe may be jacked more firmly than heretofore without undue strain on the operator. It will also be evident that by the use of means such as described for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the shoe bottom under power, this portion of the shoe bottom receives all the shaping or leveling treatment that it needs in the same machine in which the forepart is leveled by the rolling pressure. This eliminates the need for any further leveling operation on the shoe, while at the same time permitting the forepart to be leveled, as is desirable on some kinds of shoes, by a roll of greater diameter than it is practicable to use for leveling the shank.

While it is considered that the invention is adapted to be utilized with special advantages in operating on shoes having comparatively light cutsoles secured by stitches passing through both the outsoles and the insoles, such as Littleway shoes, it is also contemplated that the invention may likewise be used with advantage in the manufacture of other kinds of shoes, including welt shoes.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the fore-- part and at the heel end, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of mechanism movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to jack the shoe on the shoe support.

2. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end, and a leveling roll arranged to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of mechanism movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to jack the shoe on the shoe support and operative thereafter to hold it during the action of the leveling roll thereon.

3. In a leveling machine, the combination With a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of means movable in automatically determined time relation to the operation of the leveling tool on the shoe to jack the shoe on the shoe support.

4. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable a plurality of times in opposite directions successively to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of means movable in definite time relation to the relative movement of the shoe support and the leveling tool to force the shoe against the shoe support substantially at the beginning of the leveling operation and operative thereafter to hold the shoe until the leveling operation has been substantially completed.

5. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and power operated mechanism movable to force said device against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling tool.

6. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end, and a leveling roll arranged to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and mechanism movable in automatically determined time relation to the operation of the roll on the shoe to force said device against the shoe.

7. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the iorepart and at the heel end, and a leveling roll arranged to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device arranged to press on the bottom or" the shoe during the operation of the leveling roll, and power-operated means movable at a definite time in the operation of the machine to force said device against the shoe.

8. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, or" a device for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the hoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and power-operated means movable at a definite time in the operation of the machine to force said device against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling tool.

9. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination With a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end, and a leveling roll arranged to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and means movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to force said device against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling roll.

10. In a leveling machine, the combination With a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable in such relation to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the tool substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe at the rear of the forepart to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and power-operated means movable to force said device against the shoe.

11. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling roll relatively movable in such relation as to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the roll substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe at the rear of the forepart to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and mechanism automatically operative at a definite time in the operation of the machine to force said device against the shoe.

12. In a leveling machine, the combination With a shoe support, and a leveling tool for operating on the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, and automatic means movable to force the saddle against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling tool.

13. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable lengthwise of a shoe on said support to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, and means movable automatically at a definite time in the operation of the machine to exert a pull on the saddle at the opposite sides of the shoe to force it against the shoe.

14. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe supportand a leveling tool relatively movable lengthwise of a shoe on said support to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, and power operated means movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to force the saddle against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling tool.

15. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable in such relation as to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the tool substantially to operation on the forepart 0:" the shoe, of a pressure-applying device limited substantially to engagement with the bottom of the shoe at the rear of the forepart, and means movable auto,

matically to force said device against the shoe. 16. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination With a shoe support and a leveling roll relatively movable in such relation as to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the roll substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a saddle limited substantially to engagement with the bottom of the shoe at the rear of the forepart, and mechanism movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to force the saddle against the shoe.

17. In a shoe machine, the combination with a shoe support, and means for operating on a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and power-operated means movable automatically at a predetermined time in the operation of the machine to exert a pull on the saddle at the opposite sides of the shoe to force it against the shoe.

18. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end and movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of mechanism controlled by the movement of the shoe support for jacking the shoe thereon.

19. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support having means for supportinga shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end and movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and

J mechanism controlled by the movement of the shoe support for forcing said device against the shoe.

20. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device carried by the shoe support for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe in the leveling operation, and automatic mechanism controlled by the movement of the shoe support for forcing said device against the shoe.

21. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of mechanism arranged to be operated by the movement of the shoe support to force the shoe against the support and hold it for the leveling operation.

22. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and mechanism arranged to be operated by the movement of the shoe support to force said device against the shoe.

23. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, and a shoe support having means for supporting a shoe and its last at the forepart and at the heel end and movable to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of a device for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe to hold 3 the shoe on the shoe support, and mechanism arranged to be operated by the movement of the shoe support to force said device against the shoe.

24. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, and means controlled by the movement of the shoe support for forcing the saddle against the shoe.

25. In a leveling machine, the combination with a levelirr tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism arranged to be operated by the movement of the shoe support to force the saddle yieldingly against the shoe.

26. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, and a shoe support movable to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and so controlled as to limit the roll substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a saddle for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and mechanism controlled by the movement of the shoe support for forcing the saddle against the shoe.

27. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, and a shoe sup port movable to present a shoe in different positions in relation to said operating means, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, and means controlled by the movement of the shoe support for forcing the saddle against the shoe.

28. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, and a shoe support movable in opposite directions successively to present a shoe in difierent positions in relation to said operating means, of a device for holding the shoe on the shoe support, means for operating said device by movement of the shoe sup port in one direction, and automatic means for retaining the device in operative position when the support moves in the opposite direction.

29. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable in opposite directions successively to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device movable with the shoe support for engaging the bottom of the shoe and holding it in the leveling operation, mechanism arranged to be operated by movement of the shoe support in one direction to force said device against the shoe, and means for retaining the device in pressure-applying position when the support moves in the opposite direction.

30. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support mounted for reciprocatory movements to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for applying pressure to the bottom of the shoe, mechanism arranged to be operated by movement of the shoe device against the shoe, and automatic means 1 for thereafter unlocking said mechanism.

32. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support mounted for reciprocatory movements to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, mechanism arranged to be operated by movement or the shoe support in one direction to force the saddle against the shoe, automatic means for locking said mechanism to hold the saddle in pressure-applying relation to the shoe in further reciprocatory movements of the shoe support, and automatic means for unlocking said mechanism at the end of the leveling operation.

33. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of means for jacking the shoe on the shoe support, and additional means for thereafter jacking the shoe more firmly on the support.

34. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of mechanism arranged to be moved first manually and thereafter by power to jack the shoe on the shoe support.

35. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for jacking the shoe on the shoe support, manual means for operating said device preliminarily to jack the shoe, and mechanism movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to impart further jacking movement to said device.

36. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, means for forcing said device against the shoe, and additional means for thereafter forcing the device against the shoe with greater pressure independently of the action of the leveling tool.

3'7. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engagingthe bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, manual means for forcing said device against the shoe, and power-operated means for thereafter forcing the device against the shoe with greater pressure independently of the action of the leveling tool.

38. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool for applying leveling pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, a hand lever for forcing said device against the shoe, and automatic mechanism arranged to act through said hand lever after the starting of the power operation of the machine to force said device against the shoe with greater pressure.

39. In a shoe machine, the combination with a shoe support, and means for operating on a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, manual means for exerting a pull on the saddle at the opposite sides of the shoe to force it against the shoe, and power-operated means for thereafter exerting a further pull on the saddle to increase its pressure on the shoe.

do. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable lengthwise of a shoe on said support to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, manual means for forcing the saddle against the shoe prior to the starting of the machine, and automatic means for forcing the saddle against the shoe with greater pressure independently of the action of the leveling tool after the starting of the machine.

41. In a power-operated. leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable lengthwise of a shoe on said support to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, mecha nism including a hand lever for forcing the saddle against the shoe prior to the starting of the machine, and automatic means arranged to act on said hand lever to force the saddle against the shoe with greater pressure after the starting of the machine,

42. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable lengthwise of a shoe on said support to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the shoe, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, mechanism including a hand lever for forcing the saddle against the shoe prior to the starting of the machine, a device for locking said hand lever in pressure-applying position, and automatic means for operating the hand lever through said locking device to force the saddle against the shoe with greater pressure after the starting of the machine.

43. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable in such relation as to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the tool substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a saddle limited substantially to engagement with the bottom of the shoe at the rear of the forepart, manually operated means for forcing the saddle against the shoe preliminarily prior to the starting of the machine, and poweroperated means for thereafter forcing the saddle against the shoe with greater pressure.

4.4. In a shoe machine, th combination with means for operating on a shoe, and a shoe support movable to present a shoe in different positions in relation to said operating means, of a device for jacking the shoe on the shoe support, manual means for moving said device preliminarily to jack the shoe, and power-operated means controlled by the movement of the shoe support for thereafter imparting further movef ment to said device to jack the shoe more firmly on the shoe support.

is. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, and a shoe support movable to present a shoe in diiierent positions in relation to said operating means, or" a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, manual nieans for forcing said device against the shoe, and means arranged to be operated thereafter by the movement of the shoe support to force the device against the shoe with greater pressure.

46. In a shoe machine, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, and a shoe support movable to present a shoe in different positions in relation to said operating means, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, means for forcing the saddle against the shoe, and additional means controlled by the movement of the shoe support for thereafter forcing the saddle more firmly against the shoe.

47. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, manual means for forcing said device preliminarily against the shoe, and automatic means controlled by the movement of the shoe support for thereafter forcing said de vice against the shoe with greater pressure.

43. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, and a shoe support movable to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe, manual means for forcing the saddle against the shoe, and mechanism arranged to be operated thereafter by the movement of the shoe support to force the saddle against the shoe with greater pressure.

49. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, and a shoe support movable to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the bottom of the shoe to hold the shoe on the shoe support, a hand lever for forcing the saddle against the shoe, and mechanism for thereafter operating said hand lever by the movement of the shoe support to force the saddle against the shoe with greater pressure.

50. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool arranged to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to a portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism movable automatically to force said device against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling tool.

51. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool arranged to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, 01 a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to a portion of the bottom of the shoe, and poweroperated mechanism movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to force said device against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling tool.

52. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable in such relation as to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom or" a shoe on said support and to limit the tool sub-- stantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, and means movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to force device again t the shoe.

53. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling roll relatively movable in such relation as to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the roll substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of poweroperated means for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe during the operation of the roll on the forepart.

54. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling roll relatively movable in such relation as to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the roll substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a pressing pad for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the shoe bottom, and means movable automatically after the starting of the power operation of the machine to force said pad against the shoe.

55. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, of power-operated leveling devices arranged to act independently of each other to apply respectively to the bottom of a shoe on said support rolling pressure and direct pressure, each of said devices being substantially limited in operation to a portion of the shoe bottom different from that upon which the other device operates.

56. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable in such relation as to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the iorepart of a shoe on said support, of a saddle including a member formed to apply shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism movable automatically to force the saddle against the shoe independently of the action or the leveling tool.

57. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to a portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism controlled by the movement of the shoe sup port for forcing said device against the shoe.

58. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and so controlled as to limit the tool substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism arranged to be operated by the movement of the shoe support to force said device against the shoe.

59. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, and a shoe support movable to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a pad for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism con trolled by the movement of the shoe support for forcing said pad against the shoe.

60. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling roll, and a shoe support movable to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and so controlled as to limit the roll substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a saddle including a member formed to apply shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism controlled by the movement f the shoe support for forcing the saddle against the shoe.

61. In a leveling machine, the combination with a a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable in opposite directions successively to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device movable with the shoe support for applying shaping pressure to a portion of the bottom of a shoe, mechanism arranged to be operated by movement of the shoe support in one direction to force said device against the shoe, and means for retaining said device in pressure-applying position when the support moves in the opposite direction.

62. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along a portion of the bottom of a shoe on said support, of means arranged to be operated by the movement of the shoe support to apply non-progressive shaping pressure to another portion of the bottom of the shoe.

63. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support, and a leveling tool arranged to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for applying nonprogressive shaping pressure to a portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism movable first manually and thereafter by power to force said device against the shoe independently of the action of the leveling tool.

64. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable in such relation as to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the tool substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, and mechanism arranged to be operated first manually and thereafter by power to force said device against the shoe.

65. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable in such relation as to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the tool substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for applying nonprogressive shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, manually operated means for forcing said device against the shoe prior to the starting of the machine, and poweroperated means for operating said device to increase its pressure on the shoe after the starting of the machine.

66. In a power-operated leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling roll relatively movable in such relation as to cause the roll to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and to limit the roll substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, a hand lever for operating said device to apply pressure to the shoe prior to the starting of the machine, and automatic means for operating said hand lever to increase the pressure of the device on the shoe after the starting of the machine.

67. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to a portion of the bottom of the shoe, manual means for forcing said device against the shoe, and means controlled by the movement of the shoe support for thereafter operating said device to increase its pressure on the shoe.

68. In a leveling machine, the combination with a leveling tool, and a shoe support movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of a shoe on said support and so controlled as to limit the tool substantially to operation on the forepart of the shoe, of a device for applying non-progressive shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, manual means for forcing said device against the shoe, and mechanism arranged to be operated thereafter by movement of the shoe support to force said device against the shoe with greater pressure.

69. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a form for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said form comprising a flexible resilient metal plate arranged to extend over substantially the entire shank portion of the shoe bottom both lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe, and a rubber pad between said plate and the shoe having a normal contour approximately complemental to the desired contour of the shank portion of the shoe bottom.

70. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a form for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said form comprising a flexible resilient metal plate arranged to extend over substantially the entire shank portion of the shoe bottom and having a normal contour curved laterally of the shoe and substantially straight lengthwise of the shoe, and a member of yieldable material between said plate and the shoe having a normal contour approximately complemental to the desired contour of the shank portion of the shoe bottom.

'71. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a form for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said form comprising a flexible resilient metal plate arranged to extend over substantially the entire shank portion of the shoe bottom and so constructed as to provide a plurality of independently yieldable fingers extending lengthwise of the shoe and arranged in a series widthwise of the shoe, and a member of yieldable material between'said plate and the shoe having a normal contour approximately complemental to the desired contour of the shank portion of the shoe bottom.

72. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a form for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said form comprising a rubber pad arranged to press on the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe and a flexible resilient plate over said pad having at each of its opposite ends a plurality of independently yieldable fingers extending lengthwise of the shoe.

73. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of means for applying shaping pressure to the shank portion of the bottom of a shoe on said support, said means comprising a pad of yieldable material arranged to press on the shank portion or" the bottom of the shoe, a flexible resilient metal plate over said pad curved laterally of the shoe with its concave face toward the shoe, and means for engaging said curved plate in a location substantially midway between its opposite sides to press the pad on the shoe.

'74. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the forepart of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, said saddle comprising a pad of yieldable material arranged to press on the shoe, a flexible resilient plate over the padcurved laterally of the shoe with its concave face toward the shoe, and means for applying pressure to said plate in a location substantially midway between its opposite sides.

'75. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the forepart of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, said saddle comprising a rubber pad arranged to press on the shoe, and a flexible resilient plate over the pad so constructed as to provide a plurality of independently yieldable fingers extending lengthwise of the shoe and arranged in a series laterally of the shoe.

76. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the forepart of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, said saddle comprising a rigid member arranged to extend over the bottom of the shoe and a pad of yieldable material so mounted on said member as to permit it to turn about an axis extending heightwise of the shoe.

'77. In a leveling machine, the combination with a shoe support and a leveling tool relatively movable to cause the tool to operate progressively along the bottom of the forepart of a shoe on said support, of a saddle for engaging the shank portion of the bottom of the shoe, said saddle comprising a substantially U-shaped member arranged to extend over the bottom of the shoe, a flexible resilient metal plate swiveled on said u shaped member, and a pad of yieldable material secured to said plate.

'78. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, of a shoe support comprising a toe post, a heel post, a member on the toe post for supporting the shoe forwardly of the heel end, means for adjusting the heel post toward or from the toe post 7 to position corresponding portions of shoes of different lengths in substantially the same relation to said operating means, and connections for effecting a simultaneous adjustment of said member lengthwise of the shoe in the same direction as the heel post.

79. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, of a shoe support comprising a toe post, a heel post, a member on the toe post for supporting the shoe forwardly of the heel end, means for adjusting the heel post toward or from the toe post to position corresponding portions of shoes of different lengths in substantially the same relation to said operating means, and connections 3 for efiecting a simultaneous adjusting movement of said member lengthwise of the shoe in the same direction as the heel post but of less extent than the adjustment of the heel post.

80. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, of a shoe support comprising a toe post, a heel post, a member on the toe post constructed for supporting engagement with the forepart and instep portions of the shoe, said member being mounted for bodily movement lengthwise of the shoe relatively to the toe post, means for adjusting the heel post toward or from the toe post to position the toe ends of shoes of different lengths in substantially the same relation to said operating means, and connections for effecting a simultaneous bodily adjustment of said supporting member lengthwise of the shoe in the same direction as the heel post but of less extent than the adjustment of the heel post.

81. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, of a shoe support comprising a member for supporting the heel end of the shoe, a cradle for supporting the forepart and instep portions of the shoe, said heel-end supporting member being adjustable lengthwise of the shoe to position the toe ends of shoes of different lengths in substantially the same relation to said operating means, and connections for imparting to said cradle an adjusting movement lengthwise of the shoe in the same direction as said heel-end member but of automatically determined less extent than the movement of said member,

82. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with means for operating on a shoe, 1

of a shoe support comprising a member for supporting the heel end of the shoe, a cradle for supporting the forepart and instep portions of the shoe, said cradle being mounted for rocking movement about an axis extending widthwise of the shoe and for bodily movement lengthwise of the shoe, means for adjusting said heel-end member lengthwise of the shoe to position the toe ends of shoes of different lengths in substantially the same relation to said operating means, and connections for effecting a simultaneous bodily adjusting movement of said cradle lengthwise of the shoe in the same direction as said heel-end member but of less extent than the adjusting movement of said member.

83. In a machine of the class described, the combination with means for operating on a shoe, of a support for the heel-end portion of the shoe adjustable lengthwise of the shoe to position the toe ends of shoes of difierent sizes in the same relation to said operating means, a support for the shoe forwardly of the heel end, and mechanism for imparting to said last-named support during the adjustment of the heel-end support an adjusting movement of determinately different extent from that of the movement of the heelend support.

ARTHUR BATES. FRANK BYCROFT KEALL. 

